1. "The Upstairs Room" (from The Walk EP, 1983)
A hypnotic balance of robotic synth-pop and aggressive, angular guitar work, "Upstairs Room" also features Robert Smith at his most sassy: after declaring he couldn't love "anyone but you" he adds a biting "dear," and then, just to make it clear, deadpans "that's for sure."

2. "M" (from Seventeen Seconds, 1980)
Even though this song has the bare-bones production typical of the era, its swooshing cymbal and extended coda offer tantalizing hints at the band's future. Plus, what better mantra for the '80s club scene is there but "you'll fall in love with somebody else again tonight"?

3. "Like Cockatoos" (from Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me, 1987)
Another track that sounds better in retrospect, "Cockatoos" is easily overlooked on the sprawling, 17-track Kiss Me, but its swirling production and Eastern tones point directly towards the 1989 masterpiece Disintegration.

4. "Plastic Passion" (from "Boys Don't Cry" single, 1979)
While the lyrics don't really make any sense (are they talking about credit cards?) the track's propulsive, new-wave energy make it a worthy B-side to "Boys Don't Cry," and there's almost a taste of "Close to Me" in its double-time beat.

5. "Sinking" (from Head on the Door, 1985)
Sure, Head on the Door isn't exactly obscure, but "Sinking" is almost lost amongst the towering hits like "Inbetween Days" and "Close to Me." It may be the 8th best song on the album (just ahead of "Screw" and "The Baby Screams," in my humble opinion), but it presages the epic turn the band would soon take.